Franklin Joseph Arceo Quitugua (November 6, 1933 – February 26, 2015) was a Guamanian politician who served as a Democratic senator in 7 Guam Legislatures and as Speaker of the 19th Guam Legislature.Guam Election Commission
''2012 Election Comparative Analysis Report''
Hagatna, July 2013. He is the son of Ignacio Perez Quitugua, who served in the 1st and the 9th Guam Legislatures, and the grandfather of Congressman Michael F.Q. San Nicolas who is the Guam Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.Shawn Raymundo
''Former senator, educator Franklin Quitugua dies at 81''
Pacific Daily News. Hagatna, 27 February 2015.Robert Q. Tupaz

Marianas Variety. Tamuning, 27 January 2015.

Early life and education

Franklin Joseph Arceo Quitugua, born in Guam on November 6, 1933, is the son of Ignacio Perez Quitugua, who served in the 1st and 9th Guam Legislatures, and Rosa Santos Arceo Quitugua. Franklin Quitugua was on island during the occupation of Guam by Japan and the liberation of Guam by American armed forces. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1952.Guam Legislature
''Relative to honoring Speaker Franklin Joseph Arceo Quitugua, Ph.D., for his lifelong dedication and service to his people as an educator, administrator, Senator, Speaker and leader, and acknowledging and commending his many years of service and dedication to the educational development of our island, and his unswerving dedication to serving the community he so dearly loves.''
Hagatna, January 2007. Franklin Quitugua attended

Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public research university based in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was founded in 1899 as the final public university established in the Arizona Territory, 13 years before Arizona was admitted as the 48th state. ...

, majoring in Business Education with a minor in English. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1956. Upon returning to Guam, Franklin worked as a secondary school teacher in George Washington High School. After five years, he returned to Northern Arizona University, where he received his Master of Arts in Secondary Education Administration in 1962. After returning to Guam, he was given the position as Principal of George Washington Junior High School, which was later renamed Agueda Johnston Middle School. Franklin Quitugua was appointed Administrative Assistant to the Director of Education in 1968, became Deputy Director of Education and was appointed Director of Education by Governor

Manuel F.L. Guerrero Manuel Flores "Carson" Leon Guerrero (October 29, 1914 – October 9, 1985) was a Guamanian politician who is the sixth Appointed Governor of Guam from March 1963 to July 1969.Rogers, R. "Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam", page 238-239. Unive ...

in 1969 and retained in the position by Governor

Carlos Camacho Carlos Garcia Camacho (November 16, 1924 – December 6, 1979) was an American (U.S. citizen) politician and dentist. Camacho was a former Republican Senator in the Guam Legislature. Camacho served as the last appointed Governor of Guam from 196 ...

. From 1972 to 1975, Mr. Quitugua attended graduate school at the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...

and received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a minor emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction, Anthropology and Education. Dr. Franklin Quitugua continued to serve as Director of Education until he resigned from the position in 1976 to seek the position of Senator in the Guam Legislature.

Guam Legislature

Elections

Leadership positions

19th Guam Legislature The 19th Guam Legislature was a meeting of the Guam Legislature. It convened in Hagatna, Guam on January 5, 1987 and ended on January 2, 1989, during the 1st and 2nd years of Joseph F. Ada's 1st Gubernatorial Term. In the 1986 Guamanian general ...

- Speaker

Major legislative accomplishments

During his tenure as Senator in the Guam Legislature, Dr. Franklin Quitugua increased funding for educational facilities, including the

University of Guam University of Guam ( ch, Unibetsedåt Guåhan) (U.O.G.) is a public land-grant university in Mangilao, Guam. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and offers thirty-four degree programs at the undergraduate level a ...

, authorized the creation of and expansion of schools, expanding facilities at the

Guam Community College Guam Community College (GCC) is a community college in Mangilao, Guam. It was officially created by Public Law 14–77 in 1977. This law created the college by consolidating several pre-existing programs from a variety of institutions, including t ...

, lobbying the United States Congress for increased Compact Impact Aid funding, authorizing the teaching of the

Chamorro language Chamorro (; ch, Finuʼ Chamorro, links=no (CNMI), (Guam)) is an Austronesian language spoken by about 58,000 people (about 25,800 people on Guam and about 32,200 in the rest of the Mariana Islands and elsewhere). It is the native and spoken ...

in the Department of Education, and enabling the creation of alternative educational programs in Guam's public schools.

Retirement

After his final attempt to serve the people as Senator in the Guam Legislature, Dr. Quitugua served as Director of Education from 1991 to 1993. After retiring from the Department of Education, Dr. Quitugua served on the Board of Regents of the University of Guam. Franklin Quitugua died on February 26, 2015, at Guam Memorial Hospital, accompanied by family members. On the day of his death, Speak Judith T.P. Won Pat issued a statement, which said:

Our island has lost a great public servant today. Speaker Quitugua contributed to the advancement of education on Guam both in his service as Director of Education and as a senator, who chaired the education committee and increased funding for educational facilities in our island’s public schools, the University of Guam and the Guam Community College. His legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, who have also been called to public service, continuing his work both in the schools and the Legislature.Shawn Raymundo
''Former Speaker Franklin Quitugua dies at 81''
Pacific Daily News. Hagatna, 26 February 2015.

His viewing and funeral mass were held at the Duble Nombre de Maria Cathedral Church in Hagatna. He was interred at Guam Memorial Park, Leyang, Barrigada.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Quitugua, Franklin 1933 births 2015 deaths 20th-century American politicians Chamorro people Guamanian Democrats Guamanian people of Spanish descent Guamanian Roman Catholics Members of the Legislature of Guam Northern Arizona University alumni Speakers of the Legislature of Guam